Tropicals & Tender Perennials: it you take cuttings from a blooming plant.., 1 by andycdn

andycdn wrote:
Winterizing my brugs: After the first frost (usually mid-October here in Ontario) I pull off the burnt leaves and blooms and cut off the fleshy green stems. Then I take cuttings of the stems that have developed beige bark, about 18", so the original tree looks like a skeleton.

I put the main trees in the basement (no lights) and water them sparingly over the winter: once a month, just a cup or two of water to keep them alive. The cuttings: plunge them in a bucket of water a foot deep, with a splash (a tablespoon) of peroxide (H2O2) to minimize rot, (add another tbsp each month). They will root like crazy. In April, pot the cuttings and bring the mothers into the light to start growing, and repot if necessary (probably). The 'skeleton' will sprout all over with some feeding. I start off with 20-20-20 and then move to 15-30-15 when they have good leaf volume to produce bloom.

I have not had guaranteed success with cuttings above or below the "Y". I've done both. I think each plant has its own blooming schedule, and the weather is a big part of it. Feeding heavily usually works for me (15-30-15, twice weekly at half-strength).

Good luck!